Stephen Hawking Supports Assisted Death

In an interview with BBC News, groundbreaking theoretical physicist Stephen Hawking very clearly voiced his support for laws allowing for safeguarded physician-assisted dying:

I think those who have a terminal illness and are in great pain should have the right to choose to end their lives, and those who help them should be free from prosecution.

Hawking went on to explain, laws allowing for assisted death must be accompanied by safeguards to ensure those making the decision genuinely want to end their lives and aren’t being pressured into it or have it done without their knowledge and consent.

This is exactly what the Death with Dignity laws we advocate for accomplish. These laws which we’ve helped our grassroots partners pass in Oregon, Washington, and Vermont are specifically written to safely allow terminally ill, mentally competent adults the right to control the manner and timing of their own deaths and protect everyone involved—patients, doctors and pharmacists. The request process involves two doctors, waiting periods, and multiple requests.